Circuit breaker



June 16, 1925.

G. PAILIN CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 12, 1923 F. 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 16, 1925. 1,541,998

G. PAILIN C IRCUI T BREAKER Filed May 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1925 s. PAILIN CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed ma 12 ,1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 16, 1925. 1,541,998

- G. PAILIN CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 12, 1923 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE PAILIN, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 FERGUSON PAILIN LIMITED, 01' MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application filed May 12, 1923. Serial No. 688,540.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I GLORGE PAILIN, a sub ject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and resident of Buckley Street,

Higher Openshaw, Manchester, England,

ating arm or equivalent part when in itsclosed position so that the trip coil need not be calibrated specially for any particular conditions and. may be of much less power than usually requisite.

My invention further comprises the interposition between the switch operating arm or equivalent part and electrical trip gear, ofan energy accumulator in which energy is stored during the manipulation of the switch control handle, whilst the switch is open, and a locking device which holds the switch arm in the switch'closed position, and is unlocked by the application of said stored up energy when the latter-is released by the electrical trip gear under fault conditions.

My invention further comprises the improved arrangement of'ball type locking means for the switch arm or its equivalent.

My invention further comprises the improved details of construction and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring tothe accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings 2- Figures 1 and 2 are elevations taken at right angles to one. another of switch arm controllingmeans constructed and arranged in one convenientferm in accordance with our invention.

Figures 3 to 12 are detail views of the different parts of the mechanism comprisingv the switch arm controlling means. Figures 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate details of the arm locking means and Figures 5, 6, 11 and 12 illustrate details of the electrical tripping and of the resetting means.

Figures 13 to 16 illustrate a modified arrangement of the switch arm controlling means.

The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same or similar parts.

In one convenient application of my invention, the switch arm a or equivalent part has an annular groove 5 therearound into which can enter a ball 0 which projects into an aperture in a slide d capable of longitudinal movement upon the arm a. The said slide is restrained against rotary movement by the rails (see Figures land 9). The slide is operated from the bifurcated handle 7 by the toggle links g, h, the links 11. being pivotally connected to the slide. Vhen the switch arm a is in the switch closed position, the links g, h are against a stop 9 and slightly beyond a position in line with each other (as shown in full'li nes in Figure 4) so that the slide (land the switch arm a which is looked to the slide by the ball 0, as hereinafter described, are automatically retained in the said switch closed position.

Upon the slide or sliding block (Z is pivotally carried a stirrup like member z'in which is a cross pin having thereon a roller is. The member 5 has adownwardly projecting part m adapted to be engaged by the tripping bridge at to be hereinafter mor fully referred to. A spring 0 secured about the pin p on the sliding block (Z tends to hold the member a in the position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 7 where the roller .4: comes against the adjustable stop Q carried by the sliding block I It will be seen by reference to Figure 7 that when the member '21 is in its normal position, the roller Z: retains the ball 0 in the annular groove in the arm at but when the said member is turned about its pivots as shown in Figure 8, the roller is moved clear of the ball 0 which can then rise out of the annular groove in the arm a due to the pressure of the arm in a. direction tending to open the switch. The tilting of the member 11 is performed by tripping mechanism as hereinafter described.

One method of and means for tripping the switch by tilting the member 2' is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. Upon one of the pivot pins of the member 2' is pivotally mounted the lever s, the lower end of which is formedas a pawl and is capable o't engaging the teeth of a fixed rack t whilst its upper end has its movement limited h v the stop pin u. A spring v tends to hold the lever s with its .pper end against the pin a when its lower end is in a position to engage the teeth of the rack t. It the switch attendant is moving); the handle so as to close the switch and it he should release the pressure from the handie before the switch is completely closed. or it he should move the handle j-erl-zily, then during the period that the pressure necessar to close the switch or to hold it sta tionary is removed from the handle f, the weight of the parts tending to open the switch will he applied through the lever s and rack 25 to the stop pin a on the member '1 The consequent pressure on such pin causes the member 2' to tilt about its pivotal point from the position shown in liigures 1 and 3 to that shown in Figure 8, when the arnra displaces the hall 0 'l'rom the annular groove in a and allows the switch to open. The displaced positions of the roller l: and stop pin 11- are shown in Figure 3. This arrangement prevents a switch being so operated that serious arcing occurs at the. contacts due to taulty manipulation ol the handle f. It the switch he closed and the handle he raised. the lever a and rack I will cause the tripping of the switch.

The tripping hridge n helore referred to is carried h' v two radius links u (see Figure T) which ensure that the said hridge moves with a parallel motion. Stop pins .r limit the movement of the-bridge under the etiort ot the spring 1 To the pivot pin .3' upon which one of the links in is secured. is at tachcd the tripping arm 3% which extends above the sliding hlock (Z as shown in F l nres 1 and T The upper end oit said trip c; arm is adapted to he cng: al h the od end a" of the hell cran lever l. 5 ivo at (i when the said lever is moved into the position shown in l igure G under the action of its spring T. The arm 53 of the hell crank lever l. 5) 'arries a projecting pin 11 which enters the cam groove or slot in the hell crank lever 9. 10 which constitutes the catch lever. The end of the arm 10 ot the latter is adapted to engage a catch piece 12 which consis ol oi spindle cut awn at one side as shown in Figures 5. t and 12. The spindle 12 carries thereon a proieetinglip-likc part 13 (see Figures ll and 19) adapted to he engaged by memhers 1% attached to hell crank lever 1 pivoted at 16 and moves ahout their pivots h electro magnets 17, one or more of which is or are energized under fault conditions. A. spring 18 tends to hold the spindle 12 in the position shown in Figures ti, 11 and 12 in which the catch lever is held with its end 10 depressed. If the spindle 12 he turned by one or other of the eleotro-magnets 1.7 op

crating one ol the parts 1 cngagi the lip t l. the (alt-awn part ol the spindle 11? mil he presented to the end of the arm it which can therefore rise under the action ot' the spring T acting on the hell cram: lever t. r. the end 5 oil? which enters the cam slot N. The parts then move l'rorn the po i ioa shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 6 and the hammer like end ot the hell crank lever t. strikes the tripping arm I) (Figures 1 and T) the latter turning a radius link in about its pivot and raising the tr pping hridge n, so that it en agcs the project in part 'Hl/ of the memher i, tilting the latter and moving the roller l; clear oi the hall 0 as shown in Figure Si. The switch arm a can then torce the said hall 1': clear ot the annular groove Z) and allow the. switch to open.

The trip coils may, if desired, he immersed in oil.

The parallel motion ot the tri 'iping hridge n allows it to trip the part 111 at any point ol its traverse as the sliding hlock (l is he ing moved by the handle to close the switch. The latter "annot therefore he closed on a fault.

For resetting the tripping mechanism after its operation, we provide a bracket 20 on the sliding hlock (l (see Figures 1 and and upon the said bracket is mounted a roller 21 which is adapted when the sliding hlock (Z is traversed by the handle f, to engage the arm 22 ot the hell crank lever 22, 5.2 the other arm 2? of which is adapted to engage the roller 2ft carried hr the arm 4|.- ot' the hell crank lever it. 5. The lever 92. 2 1 i Ultllllttllllttl in a mid or inoperative position hy a spring 25. neterringnow to l igure (3 where the parts of the tripping m chanism are shown in the positions thei p after tripping the switch and assmiling that the operator is now raising the handle in Figures 1 and 2- in order to move the sliding block (I to the left in Figures 1 and in order to allow the hall c to en er the annular groove 7) in the arm 1/. which moves to the left in Figure 1 when the switch opens. then as the sliding hlock moves to the left on its inoperative stroke. the roller 21 engages the arm 29 and truns such arm ahout its pivotso that the arm "23 raises the arm t to the position shown in Figure where the final position ot the arm E2 is shown in' dotted lines. The move ment ot the hell crank lever 1, 5 from the position shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 5 stores up energy in the spring 7 which serves therefore as an energy accumin lator and it will he noted that such energv is i titllliltll from the operator when the handle 7 is performing its idle or inoperative stroke. The pin 11 in the arm 5 acting in the cam slot 8 causes the catch lever 10 to turn about its pivot from the position shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure ill) l lli lit tit)

5 when the end of the arm passes beneath the catch 12 and 'isheld thereby. spring'25returns the resetting lever 22, 23 to its initial position. The spring y returns the bridge a andtripping arm 3 to their initial positions ready to trip. the switch under fault conditions.

When theball 0 is in the annular groove in the arm a, there is a shearing strain thereon due'to the tendency of the switch to open. A ball'forms'a very eflicientand convenient means for resisting such strain and will operate effectively for long periods.

In the modified and simplified construction and arrangement of parts illustrated at Figures 13 to-16,'the member t is operated through a pin and slot connection 2' by an arm m. which extends upwards, instead of downwards as in the arrangement previously described. The slot of the said conncction is made slightly larger than the pin to permit of a certain degree of freedom of movement of the arm m. The latter has a pin m thereon at its upper end. The catch .lever or mm 10 engages the catch device 12 which is oscillated by mechanism similar to that before described. The said arm 10 is pivoted at 10 and a portion of it constitutes one of the radius links 111 of the tripping bridge n. 22, 23 constitutes the resetting lever and acts in the same manner as in the previous construction to store up energy in the energy accumulator or spring when it resets the bridge n and the catch lever 10 whilst the switch handle f is being moved on its idle stroke to cause the ball 0 to engage the groove b in the arm a. The end 22 of the resetting lever is engaged by the end of the link h- (see Figure 1.) for resetting purposes instead of by a roller on the block (Z. I

W hen the catch. piece 10 is released from the catch 12. the spring 30 raises the bridge 2?. which strikes the pin or roller m on the arm in and'tilts the member 5 so as to move the roller Z: clear of the ball 0 and thus allow the arm (in to displace the ball and open the switch. Figure 14 shows in dotted lines the position of the resetting lever 22, 23 when the parts are being reset thereby.

It will be seen that the electrical trip coils 17 merely serve to release the catch or lock 12 which holds the energy represented by the spring 7 (Figures 142) or 30 (Figures 13-16) in a stored up condition. The said trip coils have therefore a definite but small amount of work to perform so that coils of but small power are requisite. The actual release of the look upon the switch arm by the tilting of the member 2' is performed by the force stored up in the said spring 7 or 30 when the operator moves the switch handle f on its idle stroke preliminary tov closing the switch.

In the arrangement illustrated at Fi The &

ures 13to 16, the switch arm (1, moves from left to right to open the switch.

I do not lianit myself toany particular means for storing-energy in the accumulators 7 or 30, nor to anyparticular type of accumulator, onarrangement of the tripping catclr and co-operatingparts but may vary the same to suitany particular services or requirements. lVithour improved constructions and arrangements, the toggle mechanism -which is usually incorporated with the. switches, is incorporated in the lever operating gear.

The Q-I-IIPlOYIHGIIt'Of my improved controlling'niechanism in which the actual tripping and releasing of the switch arm is per formed by stored up energy and not by the electrical trip coils, renders possible the elimination of electrical relays and auxiliary tripping ljiatteries, and the disadvantages associated therewith, in nearly all systems of protective gear including leakage systems and balanced discriminating systems. Also the elimination of auxiliary tripping batteries on protective systems where it is desirable to retain relays as with reverse current protection. In this case, the fault current is utilized to trip the switch instead of the auxiliary supply. My invention also renders possible the utilization of ring type current transformers for tripping oil switches on low current capacity circuits. This type of transformer has many advantages.

I claim 1. In circuit breakers, the combination comprising a switch. arm, a slide on said arm, a hand lever, means transmitting the movements of said lever to said slide, means connecting said slide to said arm whereby they move together on the operation of said lever, means for disengaging the said connection, an energy accumulator, means whereby said accumulator is charged by movement of the said lever when. said slide and arm are disconnected, and means where-- by such accumulated energy is utilized to release the arm for a switch opening movement.

2. In circuit breakers, the combination con'iprising a switch arm having an annular groove therein, a block slidable on said arm, a ball carried by said block and detachably engaging said annular groove, a member pivoted upon said block for retaining said ball in the said groove, means for releasing said ball retaining member, means for reciprocating the said block both with and witlr out imparting such movement to the switch arm, an energy accumulator, means whereby 12 said accumulator is charged during the movement of said block without movementof said arm, and means whereby said energy is caused to actuate the said releasing means of the said ball retaining member.

3. ln circuit breakers as claimed in claim 2, means whereb the ball retaining member is set in its service position during the morment of the sliding block for storing energy in the accumulator.

I. In circuit breakers as claimed in claim 2, means for releasing the ball retaining member in the event of an incomplete closing morement of the switch arm.

5. In circuit breakers as claimed in claim 2, means whereby the ball retaining member is released to arrest a closing movement of the switch arm.

6. In circuit breakers, the combination comprising a switch arm having an annular groove therein, a block slidable on said arm,

a ball carried by said block and detachably engaging said annular groove, a stirrup pivoted on said block, a roller pivoted in said stirrup, means for tripping said stirrup about its pivot to bring said roller into and out of engagement with said ball, a handle, a toggle connection between said handle and said block, a spring, means whereby energy is stored in the said spring by a movement of said handle without imparting movement to the switch arm, and means whereby the said energy is caused to trip the said stirrnp.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE PAILIN. 

